Saturday, June 29, 2013

What a week!!! It was a bit crazy around here without Isabelle! She has never been away that long before. We all really missed her. And, though she says she didn't really have fun, I think Summer Camp was good for her. I am a bit saddened that she really didn't get to experience a traditional style camp, though. We may look for something else next year.

I rarely get "true" smiles from Isabelle. She was SO excited to see her little brothers!! <3

Sawyer missed his Sissy.

Camp Sisters.

Between our CSA with Vegetableland, our own garden, and Farmer's Markets, fresh produce has been easily found! Who else is finding healthy and tasty bounties?

I harvested out first yellow squash, and Matt has been picking beans, we continue to harvest greens, as well.. Add all the yummy goodness together and meals have been rather pleasant. :) Our first bean harvest only gave a few, so I made a stir fry with them, the squash, and carrots from our CSA. And today I made my famous pasta salad...so FRESH!

All in all, the garden is doing well. The tomatoes and peppers are slow, and the one squash had rotten baby fruits on it today. These things continue to worry me. But we are learning I suppose.

Here in the house, things are busy, too! I have beans that need canned (newbie here!), homeschool curriculum to pick out for fall, and Sawyer is pulling up and getting into EVERYTHING! lol!

On the way home from work, Matt rescued a small box turtle from the road. Gabriel hasn't gotten to see many turtles, so it was quite exciting!!

He got a bit uptight when the turtles claws touched him. lol!

I am loving being a Farmgirl Sister! I have been decorating my badge. I decided to learn some hand embroidery for it. It has been fun! I got the most wonderful teas from a fellow Sister today. And a recipe! Guess what I did?! Would you believe I wore my new apron to town today! It was a hit at the Farmer's Market!

Farmer's Market goodies!

A very dear friend had a successful VBAC yesterday and welcomed a new princess into her family.

Monday, June 24, 2013

But this is her first time away from me overnight. With the exception of girl scout lock-in and family.

Truth be told I had to "make" her go. She was so worried about not knowing anyone. And the food. She is worried about the food (mama's REAL FOODIE!). But I told her she would thank me later. She needed to play with other girls her age.

After getting her all signed in I helped her (with Sawyer in a mei tai and trying to keep Gabriel corralled) into the dorm, showed her around (I used to attend the same camp, it's changed a bit, though ;) ) and got some conversation going between her and some girls in her group. I felt better when I left and she was sitting on her bed chatting with a new friend.

It was raining when I dropped her off. Hopefully it will be drier when I pick her up Friday so I can get more pictures.

Of course, it POURED today! As in I was barely able to get home because the streets were like lakes and I had to turn around so many times. By the time the boys and I made it home we had been thoroughly soaked and dried three times. My ponytail may still be a tad damp in the center. And I have thin hair!

Once it finally stopped raining it was bright and sunny, a tad humid, but nice and cool in the mid 70s. The boys and I went out for a bit. I checked the plants and animals.

I think it's about ready!!!

Matt's onions. These are his babies!

My biggest tomato!

I am a bit concerned about my peppers (second from rt) and tomatoes (3rd and 4th bottom half). They aren't growing much. :( I don't know what to do for them to make them grow.

Corn we decided to plant ...last week! lol! And before it are some rutabagas.

I had to pot most of my herbs.

This is why... See that green "stick-ish" plant in the bottom right? That WAS my parsley. Before Daisy Mae found it.

I am worried about my peppers. And about half of my tomatoes. :( Guess I need to do some research. I had been watching a tiny green zucchini forming as well. Today I noticed it had turned yellowish. I pulled it off. The plant looks healthy. I have no idea what caused it.

Sawyer hasn't been doing real well the past several days. Frankly, neither have I. I miss these days....(which was only a week and a half ago)

Sawyer wears and amber necklace to help with teething. He is my fourth child, but first to have an amber necklace. When he cut the first 2 bottom teeth I didn't even KNOW hardly! He wasn't fussy, really. The top two were a little rougher, but I still was singing amber melodies!! Now, I still have faith in the properties of amber, but he is cutting 2 more top teeth and it has been HORRIBLE!!

Friday night we slept MAYBE 3 hours. Saturday about 6, last night about 4. He has kept a mild fever (except most of today it hasn't seemed to be an issue.), He cries CONSTANTLY it seems. I can't put him down, or walk away ( my house is a wreck). Yesterday he had one 'loose" diaper (being that I can't smell) that I didn't get to right away, so he now has a rash. He is so miserable. He doesn't stay asleep very well, so when he DOES finally nap I am afraid to make much noise. i.e. Dishes...Those horrendous things.

It's going to be rough around here....

I am still feeding my family well! Even if it means more dishes.....UGH! lol!

I made a yummy soup tonight! It will be added to my notebook for my cookbook! It's SOOO colorful! I got the cutest baby carrots in my CSA from Vegetableland today (http://vegetableland.com/), orange, purple, and white! I couldn't resist using some. It has a bone broth base made from a fresh chicken picked up from Steckler's this past Saturday (http://www.stecklergrassfed.com/). It's interesting to KNOW that the chicken we had for dinner last night and the broth from it's carcass tonight was running around a chicken tractor in a lush pasture Saturday morning. The veggies are nearly all from my garden or Vegetableland (we just love Wendy, Matt, and Renee!). Real Food, people. :)

I made this dish a couple of nights ago. Creamy pesto with lemon grilled chicken. The pesto is made with basil, kale, garlic, Parmesan, walnuts, and EVOO!

Thursday, June 20, 2013

As you may have read a couple of weeks ago, I made an adorable apron for myself! I hardly ever sew for myself. It was a new pattern, with a tad of a retro flair. Well, the apron was a bit narrow on the chest. I was so sad. But it is going to a new home with a Farmgirl Sister!

So I FINALLY had time to finish mine!! And all the materials, since I had run out of bias and didn't realize it and had to pick up more.